Box and support



PI 1.4 l931- G. c. THOMAS. .m 1,800,484

l Box AND SUPPORT' Filed Feb. v, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 1 Snwzmtoz GEORGE C 7mm 331g )1M wwwa VW April 14, 19317 G. C. THOMAS. JR

Box AND SUPPORT Filed Feb. fr, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIHNIII'IIIIIIIIIIU 23 lix 2]/ 26 f/ w um uw Egli MQWWl Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE C. THOMAS, JR., F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T0 THE THOMAS &

BETTS CO., 0F ELIZABETH, NEW

JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BOX AND SUPPORT Application led February 7, 1928. Serial No. 252,435.

This invention relates to electrical outlet boxes and supports and particularly to box supports for use in connection with electrical house-wiring work, and the box and support is designed to be anchored to a hanger rod so asto carry a lighting fixture from the box and hence from the anger rod, the latter being anchored'to the Wall or ceiling of the building in any approved manner.

An object of the invention is to produce a novel combination box and support which are adjustable laterally along the hanger rod so as to properly locate the lighting fixture when the latter is attached to the box and suspended from the'ceiling or extended outwardly from the wall.

A further object is to produce a combination improved outlet box and support therefor capable of being mounted and carried on a rod, and to this end I have produced a novel type of box construction which readily receives a box support thereinto, and means are provided'to clamp the box and support on the hanger rod and conceal from the rear of the` box the wiring at the front of the box.

A further object is to produce a combination box and support which locks or anchors against turning movement after the same is mounted on the hanger rod and the device therefore provides a rugged and durable construction against which a mechanic may work and twist when Vhe is installing ay lighting fixture.

Having the above and other objects in view, reference is now made to the views in the ac companying drawings which illustrate an example of the invention, the form of which maj7 be varied in certain particulars without departing from the principle of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the box and support in plan view looking down on top or at the rear face thereof with a portion'of a support member, in the form of a box cover support plate, broken away and showing the hanger rod clamped between the box and support. One cable is also shown inserted in the box.

Figure 2 shows a lengthwise section on the f line-2-2 of Figure 1, which affords a side elevation of the hanger rod and a section of the box and its cover support plate.

Figure 3 shows aI cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, which affords a partial cross section and partial side elevation of the box gether.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure l to fully show a cable opening or socket formed in which the wire of a cable passe-s.

Figure 6 is a cross section through the support member shown for example as a disc or over plate to enclose the rear face of the In house and building electrical wiring installations, outlet boxes B are used for establishing cable and wire terminals. The cable C is anchored to the box B and the cable wires W hang free from the box ready to make electrical connection with the wires of an electric fixture or other device, not shown. Various connecter means are employed for anchoring the cable C to the box B. Likewise it is necessary to provide means, such as a box support, to attach the box to the building, say to the ceiling or to the wall, and my `invention relates to the latter improvements wherein I produce a box and support especially designed to be carried on a hanger rod R. having holes in the outer ends thereof by whichthe rod'is fastened to studs or joists in the building.

My invention relates in particular to a box support, or it may be called an outlet box and support, and I have devised a new form of box which is adapted to fit onto the hanger rod R. I have also devised a box support having a clamping function which anchors the box against movement on the rod R, the support serving other uses such as covering the rear face of the box, and also carrying knock-outs through which a cable C is led into the box.

the box and wire bushings at the lower part of the socket and out through The form of box member B which I use to illustrate the invention may comprise a cast box having a rim 8 integral with la web 9.

A lighting fixture supportv or stud 10 may' either side of the web 9 so as to form anV upper rim 12. The box rim 812-may be Vconsidered one' and Vthe same portion with the box web 9 disposed substantially in the centerthereof and transversely of the axis of the stud 10 and rim 8-12. A'pair of up standing flanges 14 are formed in the upper portion of the box within the rim 8-12 and are spaced apart, the stud 10 being centrally disposed between these upstanding flanges 14. Each upstanding flange 14 defines therein one wall'of a cable socket or opening 15 leading downwardly into the box and terminating vat the lower extremity thereof in one ormore, in this instance two, bushed wire passages 16.- The box riml 8-12 defines 4the other wall of the cable socket 15. A pair of cable sockets 15 are therefore shown, and they v may be arranged in any relation to the other box portion but they are here shown as being diametrically oppositeeach other. The cable openings 15 may be formed oblong as shown and two cables may therefore be readily introduced into each4 socket opening 15.

Cable and box connecter or anchorage' meansis employed Vto fastena cable C in each cable socket 15. The cable connecter or clamp hereemployed comprises a single j cable clamp screw 17 threaded through the box rim 8-12 so that the threaded end of `the screw projects into the socket 15, the screwV being mounted substantially'parallel to thebox web 9 if desired. A screw 17 may therefore be used to anchor twoV cables in the box and when so anchored the cable C has its lower end seated on thebushing 16 and v the wire W passes therethrough andis free for connection with the other wires leading from a lighting xture not shown.

The upper or rear face box rim portion 12 is notched at diametrically opposite'points as indicated at 19. The two rim notches 19 and the two upstanding flanges14 taken together define avrod passage, channel Vor rod sea-t 19 throughthe box and into-which the rod R is seated.Y This rod channel 19 aords room for the rod R to it down into the rear face of the box. A. clamp or box support cover device anchors the box to the rod R as will be explained. The upstanding ianges 14 preferably are made less in height thanthe f prises thickness of the rod R, as shown in Figure 3 and other views. The rod R therefore rests in the notched rod seat or channel 19 and the upper surface of the rod R is'slightly above the upper surface of the socket and rod seat forming flanges 14.

A box support device in the form of a box kcover plate 21 preferably is made circular to fit the upper portion of thevbox and within the box rim 12 and is adapted to rest upon theV rod R. Thissupport plate 21 fits freely into the boxl rim 12 and engages the hanger rod R since the upstanding flanges 14 do not reach tothe upper surface of the rod R and hence do not support the plate 21. rfapped screw holes 22 are made in the plate 21 and box vsupport screws or operating means 23 are 'passed freely through screwV holes 24 made in thebox web 9, one hole 24 being placed to each side of the rod R. The box' support screws 23 are screw threaded into the tapped By tightening the box support operating ort Y oth' clamped tightly'together on'the'rod R; Be-V fore tightening the box support screws 23, the

screws 23, it follows that the box sup plate 21 and theV box member B are box member B may be shifted or adjusted on the rod to the right position so as to properly locate the lighting fixture subsequently at' tached to the box stud 10.

The box support device 21 is advantageously made in the form of a cover plate so as to conceal 'the wiring inthe box from the rear or upper side thereof. The other side of the box or its front face'is usually covered by a canopy or other shown since thesame has-no relation to this invention. The boxsupport cover plate 21 is madeV with knock-outs 26 which simply coma tool marking punch deliveredY Y the cover 21 to mark and outline the disc 26 in the cover 21 thereby against knock-out leaving aibox hole H leading directly into Vthe cable socket 15. Ordinarily one cable Cris anchored to the box and vonly one knock-out disc'26 is required to be knocked out of the plate 21,V so Athe box cover 21 is left intact and -concealsthe rear face of the box so that the electrical connections made with the wires 1V atthe front of the box are not exposed from the rear ofthe box, which is an advantage. y

holes 22 inthe cover support 21.y

ornamental means not The form of box described provides means for attaching a'plurality of cables with'a'v minimum number of clamp screws 17 and another advantage resides in the factV that the box Vsupport 21 is itself a vcover which conceals the wires and not only that, but the cover carries the knock-out openings to admit entry `of the cable C into the box. Fur-V thermore the cover acts as a'clarnp to anchor the box to the hanger rod R, the latter vbeing ecurely clamped between the box web 9 and, 130

" lAboxvand support comprising' the cover plate 21 when the operating screw means 23 are tightened up.

I have therefore produced a box and box support combination which includes a cast box member B having a hanger rod receiving means such as a seat, together with the rod R, the plate or disc 21 acting as a cover and providing knock-out openings or cable holes H through which a cable is led to and seated in the cable socket 15. The flanges pointed out at 14 extend downwardly through the box web 9 to give depth to the cable sockets 15.

It is significant that the rear face of the casting or box member B under the cover 21 is flat and open where the rod R is received, i. e., the box casting has an open rear face into which is received and against which the rod .1s placed. Therefore, the box is easily fitted against the rod, the latter resting in the notches 19 and in the seat defined by these notches and by the upstanding flanges 14. The rod R rests between the flanges 14 and in contact with the rear face-of the box web 9 and the box is therefore securely anchored to the rod by the cover.

The flanges 14 perform the several functions of locking the box against rotation, of extending downwardly through the web 9 to define the deep cable sockets 15, and of strengthening the box. The box support screws or clamp operating means 23, and the cable clamp screws or cable anchorage means 17 are easily accessible for tightening and loosening operations so that the box is simple to install. The structure is neat in appearance and assembly since the rod R fits lnto the box and is concealed by the support and cover plate 21.

While I have in fact mentionedY that the upstanding flanges 14 secure the box against rotation, it is quite evident that the rimnotched means 19 also largely contribute to this function. Its two notches 19 are formed along a line drawn midway between that position of the flanges which are on the same side of the web with the notches. Furthermore the flanges 14 terminate at the rim and integrally join this marginal rim 8-12 carried by the web 9 so that the cable openings 15, being bound or surrounded by the flanges 14, are 1n fact formed into the cable sockets 15.

What is claimed is:

a box member including a cable socket into which a cable is received, and having an open rear face, means forming a rod seat in the open rear face, and a fixture stud carried with the box member; cable anchorage means to fix a cable in the socket; a box supporting device mounted on the rear face of the box member and including a cover fitted over said open rear face to cover the cable socket, and being provided with a knock-out opening through which a cable is led into said socket; and means for drawing the supporting device and box member together and adapted to clamp a hanger rod therebetween.

2. A box support comprising, a casting made with a threaded stud adapted to receive and support a lighting fixture, said casting being provided with a cable receiving opening into which a cable is inserted, cable anchorage means carried with the casting to fix the cable in the opening, said casting being provided with a rim having oppositely formed notched means to receive a support rod thereinto and lock the casting against rotation, a supporting device including a cover plate having a cable passage therethrough disposed within the rim and over the means in which the rod is seated, and operating means carried with the casting engaging the supporting device and acting to clamp the device against the rod and clamp the casting against the rod.

3. A box and support comprising; a box member including, a rim and a web integrally within the rim, a fixture stud integral with the web, said member having a cable receiving socket, and also having a rod receiving means formed by notches made in the rim; cable anchorage means carried with the member to fixacablein the socket; abox coverhaving a cable passage therethrough placed over the member to close the rod receiving means and to close the cable receiving socket; and operating means carried on the member reaching through-the web and engaging the box cover to clamp the latter against a rod mounted in the vrod receiving means.

4. A box and support comprising, a. member formed with a web and rim, said rim made with oppositely disposed notches affording a space into which a. hanger rod is adapted to be received and seated against the web, a flange on the web joining the rim and defining a cable receiving socket, a screw threaded through the rim into the socket to fix a cable therein, a cover plate having a cable passage therethrough mounted on the box over the space into which a hanger rod is received and mounted over the socket, and

Vscrews mounted through the web and screwthreaded into the cover plate.

5. A box and support comprising, a box including a web bounded by a rim, said web being provided with cable openings, flanges formed aroun'dthe cable'openings to provide cable-sockets .and the flanges being' connected with the rim, said rim being notched at opposite points along a line between the cable sockets to receive a hanger rod and seat the latter on the web between the sockets, a box Vsupport cover mounted on the box over the cable opening and having knock-outs, a screw which is threaded through the rim into each socket to grip a cable, and screws extended through the web fand which are threaded into the `cover to clamp the latter on the box.

:6. A box vand support-comprising, :a box member including .a web Jformed with spaced cable openings, flanged means surrounding each openingv thereby producing :cable sockets, screws threaded through the iianged means into each socket to fix a cable therein,

i rod is received, and screws :to clamptogether .the cover .and box.

7. A box comprising, a box member including a web through which a pair of .cable openings are formed, a fla-nge surrounding each opening, VVa screw which is threaded through each flange into the opening to grip a cable therein placed, said cable openings and surrounding anges being separated Vto afford a space therebetween to receive al hanger rod adapted to be seated on the web, a cover plate mounted on the box over the space and including knock-outs proximate the cable openings through which a cable extends into Vthe box, and screws extended through the web into the cover plate to clamp the box to the 'latten l 8. An outlet box comprising, a member provided with two cable openings spaced apart and adapted to havea hanger rod Aplaced against the member between the' two cable openings, a rim extending around the member, means carried by the rim to-iixa cable in the openings, said rim being at opposite points to aiiord a space to receive the rod aforesaid through the rim, a. cover plate having knock-outs and being mounted on the member over the space adapted to be ccupied byra rod, and a screw extended through the member on either. sider of the space and hence a hanger rod and threaded into thecover plate to clamp the box to the plate.

box and support Vcomprising a box member, a fixture support carried by the box member, a cable'op'ening in said member, a

Vhanger rod, means to clamp the box member to the hanger rod and to cover the cable opening, and a knockout opening in said means.

Y 10. A box and support comprising a box member, a xture support carried by the box #reemberg arca-ble socket` in said member,

bange? lQd- Dleensitorlamp thebnx member Y the hanger rod and to cover the cable socket, and at least one knockout opening in said means. Y

11. A box and support comprising Va cast box member, a ixturesupp'ort integral therewith, a cable opening in said member, a hanger rod, means to clamp the box member to the hanger rod and t0 cover theY cable Vmember having an open rear face, a xture notched opening, and ya knockout opening .in said means.

12. A box and support comprisingra cast box member, a fixturey support integral therewith, a cable socket in said member, a hanger rod, means to clamp the box member to the hanger rod and to cover the cable-socket, and at least one knockout opening in said means.

13. A box and support comprising a boxV suupport carried with the member, a cable passage through the memberl from the open rear face, a hanger rod, a cover plate coverthe open'rear face and toclamp .the hanger rod to the member, and-a .knockout hole in the cover plate.

1 14. vA box and support comprising a box member having anopen rear face, a iixture support carried with the member, acable passage through the member from the open rear face, a support for the box member, a cover plate covering the open rear face and to clamp the support tothe box member, and at least one knockout hole in the cover plate.

In testimonyA whereof afix my signature.

Y enonen o. rrHoMAs, JR. 

